Log washer



Aug. 18, 1959 R.L.FYE 2,900,177

LO'G WASHER Filed Feb. 25, 1 957 RONALD F. FYE

ATTORNEY l i am 1- 1b INVENTOR.

' washer box.

United States Patent" C LOG WASHER Ronald L. Fye, Hollidaysburg, Pa., assignor t McLanalian &' Stone Corporation, Hollidaysburg, Pa.,'a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 25, 1957, Serial No. 642,030 6 Claims. c1. zest-130 This invention relates generally to. a log washer, but more particularly and specifically the invention is' directed and limited to a new and improved washer log for a log washer.

Ingeneral terms log washers are used for removing clay, soft stone or rock, sand and other waste material or refuse from.many different kinds of materials such as from. phosphate, limestone; iron and manganese ores and many other like or similar materials or ores. V

Described generally a log washer comprises an elongated washer box which is usually metal and is comparatively narrow, and to this is fed the material or ore which is to be washed. A pair of washer logs extend longitudihorizontal and the material to be worked is delivered to" the lower end ofthe box and water is delivered to the box to flush from it the refuse freed from the ore or other material therein which occurs by reason of the working of the material by the paddles of the rotating logs,

In operation a ridge of material is formed along the center of the washer box as the logs revolve in opposite directions toward one another. The log paddles, which are set at an angle transverse the faces of the logs, cause both an abrading and cutting action as they pass in an up wardly direction through the ore or material. The material is propelled along the logs and the box by the paddles which results in a scrubbing action on the material which occurs not only between the paddles but also between the pieces of the material or ore itself. The result of the 6 eral tio n is a division and disintegration of the clay and other soft materials present in the washer box and the foreign material is carried off'to discharge with waste water as it passes from the rear or'lo'wer feed end of the Inithat the washer logs are quite long, being in some instances as much as 3Q or more feet in length, and inasmuch as they are supported in 'the washer box only at their ends, the logs must be strong to withstand the stresses and strainsto which they are subjectedwhen they are in' operation upon the material or aggregate in the washer box.

One of the objects of the present invention is the pro vision of a washer log which by reason of its construction can be made of lesser diameter and still be sufficiently strong to withstand the stresses and strains to which it is subjected when in operation and will also be durable. I I

Another object of the invention is the, provision of a washer log'which by reason of its specific construction has "ice extending side walls which when the log is inoperation will project into the material or aggregate within the washer with the result that the log itself, as well as the paddles carried by the logs, will work and agitate the material and thereby increase the agitation and working of the material over the working and agitation of the material obtained by the washer logs as heretofore known and used.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a washer log having projections or shoulders at each of its sides to provide what might be termed gussets to which the bases, to which the paddles are attached, can be secured to more rigidly aflix the bases to the log than has been the case in washer logs as heretofore known and used.

A still further object as well as an advantage of the invention is the provision of a washer log which in comparison to prior washer logs gives a more projected area to the paddles and their bases to cause greater washing action than has been the case heretofore where the diameters of washer logs have been unnecessarily greater to attain the desired log strength with a consequent necessary reduction in the length of the paddles to permit the width of the washer box to accommodate the logs.

A still further object of the invention is the method by which a washer log having the attributes and advantages set forth above can be fabricated and which permits the log to be manufactured at a low cost without sacrificing strength, durability or efiiciency.

Other objects as well as advantages of the invention will be recognized by those familiar with this art from a reading of the following description directed to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the log at a, point intermediate log paddles, as for instance at a point indicated by the section line 1---1 of Fig. 2.

I Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the log appearing in Fig. l, the'loghaving been slightly rotated so that two sides thereof are visible.

Fig. 3 is a schematic or exploded view showing the log side plates and paddle bases in unassembled positions prior to the formation of the log.

The Washer log, which is made of metal and preferably 7 steel and of the proper length for use in a designated washer box, is composed of four plates A,'B, C and D which, by reference to Fig. l of the drawing, it will be seen are arranged to provide a log which is square in transverse sectional configuration.

Each plate has one of its ends bevelled as indicated at a, b; c andd. in arranging the plates to form the log the bevelled end of one plate is positioned adjacent the inner face of an adjacent plate at a point intermediate the end and center of the adjacent plate, all of which clearly appears in Fig. 1 of the drawings, with the result thatwhen the plates are secured together there is at and along one of the longitudinal edges of each plate a flange or shoulder which are designated 1, 2, 3 and 4. These flanges or shoulders extend outwardly beyond the outer face of the plate withwhich they are associated and are disposed at right angles to the outer faces of said plates.

These'flanges or shoulders serve several purposes as will hereinafter be pointed out. 7

The plates aresecured to oneanother by welding and where the welds are designated 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Each log paddle and its baseas well as the manner of attachment of the paddle base and the paddle to the log, is identical and description of a single paddle base and paddle will suffice to explain in respect to all of the paddle bases and paddles.

A paddle base E is a flat metallic plate welded to a face of the log and also to the inner face of one of the flanges. These bases extend outwardly at right angles to the log face with which it is associated and also extends at an angle in a direction transverse the log face. A base has its bottom edge welded to the outer face of a log plate as for instance the outer face 9 of the plate A. The plate has one of its sides welded to the inner face of a' log flange as for instance by the weld 10 to the inner face of the flange 1 of the log side plate B.

This construction assures a rigid and braced attachment of the paddle base to the log in that it is welded along two of its dimensions.

A paddle F is detachably secured to the base by suitable bolts 11 and 12 or the like.

It will be understood of coursethat there are a plurality of paddles and bases secured in spaced relationship along each of the faces of each of the logs and that the paddles are so positioned that the paddles of one log rotate through the spaces between the paddles of the other log.

The method by which the log is fabricated will be obvious from the foregoing description and needs no further amplification.

It has been found that by constructing a log as described it is possible to use a log having a diameter of ten inches where heretofore it has been necessary to use a log having a diameter of fourteen inches to attain the necessary strength and rigidity. As a consequence of this the overall lengths of the paddle bases and paddles from tip to tip of the blades transverse the log can be greater, than with a log of a fourteen inch diameter, and still get the logs within ,a washer box of the same width. As a result of this the present log has a greater projected area to the base and paddle than has been heretofore the case with the consequent advantage of giving the logs a greater washing action. This reduction in the log diameter without sacrifice of strength is possible because it is the width of the log plates which gives the log its strength and with the projecting edges or flanges 1, 2, 3 and 4 the log plates are as wide if not wider than the plates of logs as heretofore known and used where the log plates were devoid of such projections.

The projections or flanges of the logs will themselves project into the material or aggregate within the washer box and cause an agitation and working of the material in addition to the agitation and working of the material caused by the paddles and their bases and consequently the log itself will work the material or aggregate which has not been the case in respect to logs as heretofore known and used.

The flanges of the log sides or plates is very advantageous and desirable in that it forms an abutment and anchorage for the ends of the paddle bases which makes it possible to secure the paddle bases more rigidly to the log and with greater simplicity and lesser cost than has been possible heretofore in respect to the attachment of paddle bases to washer logs.

What I claim is:

1. A washer log composed of a plurality of plates secured together to form the side walls of a hollow elongated body which is polygonal in cross sectional configuration, each plate constituting a side wall of the log and being secured to two other plates, each plate having one edge extending outwardly beyond the outer face of one of the two plates to which it is secured, the outwardly extending edges of the plates providing a flange extending longitudinally of the body at each of the points of joinder of one plate with another plate, a plurality of paddle means disposed in spaced relationship along each side wall of the body, each paddle means 4 having an end extending transverse and being secured to a side wall of the body and being elongated and extending outwardly at right angles to the body side wall, and said paddle means each being secured at its edge to a plate flange.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1 wherein, there are four plates forming the hollow body, and the body is rectangular in cross sectional configuration.

3. A Washer log composed of a plurality of plates secured together to form the side walls of a hollow elongated body which is polygonal in cross sectional configuration, each plate being secured to two other plates, each plate having one edge extending outwardly beyond the outer face of one of the two plates to which it is secured, the outwardly extending edges of the plates providing a flange extending longitudinally of the body at each of the points of joinder of one plate with another plate, a plurality of paddle base members disposed in spaced relationship along each side wall of the body and extending transverse the side walls, each base member having an edge abutting and secured to the outer face of a side wall plate and an edge abutting and secured to a side of one of the flanges, and a paddle secured to each base member.

4. A construction as defined in claim 3 wherein, there are four plates forming the hollow body and said plates are secured together by welding, and the securing means for the paddle base members is in the form of welds.

5. A washer log composed of four plates secured together to form the side walls of a hollow elongated body which is rectangular in cross sectional configuration, each of said plates having one of its longitudinal edges bevelled, the bevelled edge of each plate abutting the face of a second plate with the plates disposed at right angles and the point of abutment being midway between a longitudinal edge and the middle of said second plate to provide a flange extending longitudinally of the body at each of the points of joinder of one plate with another plate, said abutting plates being secured by a welding operation including the deposition of metal into the space between the plates formed by the aforesaid bevelled edge, a plurality of paddle means disposed in spaced relationship along each side wall of the body, and each paddle having an end extending transverse and being secured to a side wall of the body and an edge secured to a plate flange and being elongated and extending outwardly at right angles to the body side wall.

6. A washer log composed of a plurality of plates secured together to form the side walls of a hollow elongated body which is polygonal in cross sectional configuration, each of said plates having one of its longitudinal edges bevelled, the bevelfed edge of each plate abutting the face of a second plate with the plates disposed at right angles and the point of abutment being midway between a longitudinal edge and the middle of said second plate to provide a flange extending longitudinally of the body at each of the points of joinder of one plate with another plate, said abutting plates being secured by a welding operation including the deposition of metal into the space between the plates formed by the aforesaid bevelled edge, a plurality of paddle means disposed in spaced relationship along each side wall of the body, and each paddle having an end extending transverse and being secured to a side wall of the body and an edge secured to a plate flange and being elongated and extending outwardly at right angles to the body side wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,887,151 Fye Nov. 8, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 202,526 Switzerland Jan. 31, 1939 

